Mark Hudson will try to put aside memories of “most heartbreaking” defeat of
his career when he is reunited with Ian Holloway at Cardiff City Stadium.

The Cardiff captain faces his former club Crystal Palace, hoping his side can consolidate their three-point lead at the top of the Championship.

A victory would build on an excellent victory away to Leicester on Saturday and give Malky Mackay’s side their 11th home win of a hugely promising season.

But experience has taught Hudson not to get carried away. He was part of the Cardiff side that lost the 2010 play-off final to Blackpool after the game went to extra-time. Palace manager Holloway was in charge of Blackpool then.

“It was the most heartbreaking day of my football life,” Hudson said. “You can’t dwell on these things and beating his team in one game is not going to wipe away those memories.

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves but this current squad has the edge over the previous ones. It is the best I’ve ever been with.

“Not only do we have the qualities, but we work so hard for each other. It’s a great group. The feeling in the camp is that we’re confident we can beat anybody in this division.”

Palace fought back from two goals down to beat Cardiff at Selhurst Park earlier this season. Hudson is determined that his side should avoid a similar performance.

“We played so well in that first half, then we gave away two penalties,” he said. “That win gave them a big boost. Dougie Freedman did a terrific job there and now Holloway has come in and kept their momentum going.”

A draw for Palace at home to Huddersfield on Saturday evening was their third in as many games and puts them a point behind Hull City in third. As Hudson acknowledged, with attacking talent such as Wilfried Zaha and Glen Murray, Holloway’s side pose a serious threat.

“There are people waiting for Palace to fall off the pace, but we don’t see it that way at all,” Hudson said. “They’re a good side and they have Wilfried Zaha’s pace and Glen Murray’s goals to make them a real threat.

“They make chances and Murray sticks them away. As a side, they have shown real consistency over the past few months. Now they will want to hold on to the two of them to keep their challenge going.”